How to Create Item Categories

Organizing your auction items into categories makes it easier for bidders to browse and find what they are looking for.

CharityAuctions allows you to create and manage categories directly from the item setup process.

Creating Categories While Adding an Item

Categories are created automatically as you add or edit items.

To create a new category:

1. Open your auction dashboard.

2. In the left navigation menu, click Item Management.

3. Select Item Catalog.

4. Click Add Item or edit an existing item.

5. In the Category field, either:

   • Select an existing category, or

   • Type in a new custom category name.

As soon as you enter a new category and save the item, that category is created in your auction.

Using Default and Custom Categories

When assigning a category, you can:

• Choose from available default categories

• Create your own custom categories

• Mix and match both options as needed

This gives you full flexibility to organize items in a way that best fits your event.

Categories Become Reusable

Once a category has been created:

• It will automatically appear in the Select Category list

• You can assign it to additional items

• You do not need to recreate it again

This makes organizing future items faster and more consistent.

Why Categories Are Important

Using categories helps:

• Bidders browse items more easily

• Similar items stay grouped together

• Your auction look more professional

• Improve overall bidder experience

Well-organized auctions typically receive more engagement and higher bids.

Best Practices

For the best results:

• Use clear, simple category names

• Avoid creating too many similar categories

• Keep naming consistent (for example: “Gift Cards” instead of “Giftcard” and “Gift Cards”)

• Plan your categories before adding large numbers of items

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do I create item categories?Categories are created directly from the item entry screen while adding or editing an item.

Do I need to create categories in advance?No. Categories can be created on the fly as you add items.

Can I use both default and custom categories?Yes. You can choose from default options or create your own.

Will new categories be available for future items?Yes. Once a category is created, it can be selected for any other item.

If you need help organizing your auction or planning categories, CharityAuctions support is happy to help.